Effects of Methyldopa and Nifedipine on Uteroplacental and Fetal Hemodynamics in Gestational Hypertension

Abstract

Objective. Investigation of methyldopa and nifedipine effects on maternal and fetal hemodynamics in women with mild gestational hypertension during the third pregnancy trimester. Methods. A prospective cohort study. Methyldopa effects were followed in 28 patients, and nifedipine effects in another 28 patients. There were also 28 healthy controls. Results. Uterine artery blood velocity waveform indices were improved only by nifedipine. Neither of the drugs affected the indices in umbilical and fetal middle cerebral artery. Both drugs normalized maternal blood pressure and pulse. Conclusions. Methyldopa and nifedipine did not show clinically significant influence on umbilical artery and fetal cerebral blood flow.

Keywords:

• Antihypertensive agents
• Blood circulation
• Fetus
• Gestational hypertension

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

This study was partially financed by Research Grant No. JP 01/08 given by Medical Faculty, University of Kragujevac, and by Research Grant No. 145005, given by Ministry of Science, Republic of Serbia.

Declaration of Interest

The authors report no conflicts of interest. The authors alone are responsible for the content and writing of the paper.